Eugene Robinson Really is a Stupid Man

2013 September 24

by Rob Meltzer

There was a time when I thought Eugene Robinson was pretty smart. Then I thought he was a toady for the Regime, incapable or preserving his own credibility for the good of der Fuhrer. But the column that Rick has just run “Why Obamacare is a GOP Nightmare” demonstrates that he really doesn’t get it. He really honestly truly doesn’t seem to understand an issue he claims to write about. And here’s the sentence that proves it: “The party shows no serious interest in finding a GOP-friendly way to provide the uninsured with access to health care.”

Yes! That’s it exactly! But rather than be proud of his achievement in reaching his epiphany, he reverts to hyperbole and bluster. So let’s be clear–the GOP as a general rule does not believe that the federal government should engage in providing the uninsured with access to health care. period. One of the things that makes Romneycare tolerable is that it is a state program. The states have the power to perform this task. The federal government does not. Who says? The United States Supreme Court, which ruled that Obamacare did not fit within the rubric of the Commerce Clause. Obamacare is really a tax, and there is an excellent chance that it will be struck down if, god forbid, this massive new tax on the middle class and poor ever goes into effect.

Robinson is close to understanding that the difference between Democrats and Republicans is still a difference between state and federal power, just as it has been for nearly 200 years. This is not new. And should the Republican Party use its power to protect the constitutional protections built in by the 9th and 10th Amendments by forcing a defunding of the Obamatax? Absolutely. The Republicans took an oath to uphold the Constitution. Its the Democrats who raise their right arms in salute to Obama. If Robinson could just get basic concept in his head, he wouldn’t be such an apparent muddled fool.

I know this distinction is critical to you – Romneycare good, Obamacare bad. But I see almost no evidence it’s important to anyone else, either the combatants in Congress or the citizens on both sides. If not being focused on federalist theory as the central question of America’s health care debate is a measure of stupidity, Eugene Robinson has lots of company.

Republicans aren’t afraid. Fear is a democrat weakness. As soon as o’bamatax kicks in, the law heads back to the supreme court. What the democrats have to fear is that they now need to hold power permanently to keep this loser program. 68 percent don’t want obamacare. Repubs take the senate next year and obamacare is toast.

The thing Republicans really fear is a primary challenge from a deranged but photogenic tea party rebel. Look at Mitch McConnell cowering in the corner and tell me Democrats are uniquely prone to fear.

Having just read Robinson’s column (I’ve been out of town for a few days) it seems even more to the point given Rob’s histrionics. Here’s the first sentence:

“To understand the crisis in Washington, tune out the histrionics and look at the big picture: Republicans are threatening to shut down the federal government — and perhaps even refuse to let the Treasury pay its creditors – in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to keep millions of Americans from getting health insurance.”

Rob may sincerely believe that fealty to constitutional theories of federalism is what the Obamacare debate is about. He surely believes that denying access to health care, which credible research says costs tens of thousands of lives, is a small price to pay for protecting states’ rights.

But I don’t buy it. What’s happening here is that one party has made a good faith effort to fix the many problems in the health care system that cost too much money and bring too much sickness and heartbreak to people. And the other party has chosen to oppose all such efforts, not as a matter of constitutional principle, but out of partisan hatred and blind anti-government emotion.

Comments are closed.

About this blog:

Holmes & Co. is a Blog for Independent Minds, a place for a free-flowing discussion of politics, policy, news and opinion.

This blog is the online cousin of the Opinion section of the MetroWest Daily News. As such, our focus starts in the MetroWest/495 area and spreads from there to include Massachusetts, the nation and the world. You'll also find here lots of cross-referencing to columns and editorials in the MetroWest Daily News.

The blog presents an opportunity for readers to comment directly and immediately on pieces that appear on the print pages.